Source: The New York Times

On August 2, 2001, The New York Times reported that "Chief Justice Roy Moore unveiled...in the judicial building in Montgomery a...display of historical quotations that was topped by carved tablets of the Ten Commandments. The display fulfills a campaign pledge the judge made last year to acknowledge in a public place God's influence on the law."

Source: The Boston Globe

On August 2, 2001, The Boston Globe reported on Jamal Saba of Canton, Mich. "When Saba moved his family into a $500,000 dream house," he included a statue of the Virgin Mary in the $10,000 landscaping design. "He was shocked recently to find an anonymous letter in his mailbox, telling him that religion should stay inside the home, and later to discover that he faces a legal challenge from his homeowners association over the statue...'They hate me because the Virgin Mary went up,' said Saba."

Source: The New York Times

On July 31, 2001, The New York Times reported on a Mormon denomination in Missouri that was called, until April 6, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. "Now it is the Community of Christ -- the same organization, rechristened...The Community of Christ and the Mormons...trace themselves to the church begun on April 6, 1830, by Joseph Smith...Some [Mormon church members] regrouped and formally began the Reorganized Church on April 6, 1860." The church has changed its name to better reflect its current...

Source: The Hartford Courant

On July 30, 2001, The Hartford Courant reported that officials of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development threatened to withhold $9,000 from Barbara Miller's I Have a Friend Youth Center in Hartford after "she supplemented the tutoring and after-school activities she offered by asking a minister she knew to hold what she called 'spiritual rap sessions' once a week...HUD's decision drew an angry response from Miller...She said the sessions were not Bible classes or religious instruction and filled an important need...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On July 29, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported on Atlanta's 200 Korean churches. "First Korean Presbyterian and Korean Community Presbyterian, both with about 1,000 members, are the largest Korean churches in the Southeast...The two churches' success reflects the explosive growth of metro Atlanta's Korean population since the churches began in the mid-1970s. Census figures show the Korean population here at more than 28,000, but Korean community leaders say the number is closer to 50,000. Korean...

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On July 29, 2001, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that "through their efforts, [religious groups] sometimes foster tolerance and sometimes foster intolerance, said John Green,...who researches grassroots politics...In spite of efforts to foster a multicultural society, churches remain largely segregated, Green said...The standout in church integration, however, are the Pentecostal congregations."

Source: The Arizona Republic

On July 28, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported on Torkom Saraydarian. "Through his philosophy, which he called Ageless Wisdom, he drew from the teachings of the world's religions to help others fulfill their destinies. He died at age 80 in 1997...Today in Cave Creek, his daughter, Gita Saraydarian, carries on her father's legacy by publishing his books and teaching classes...'It's a blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Sufi,'" she said.

Source: Messenger-Inquirer

http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/columnists/owen/3382699.htm

On July 28, 2001, the Messenger-Inquirer reported on the growing religious diversity in the Bible Belt. "About 200 Jains and about as many Sikhs live in west-central Kentucky and Tennessee now... Bowling Green has 2,000 actively practicing Muslims, mostly Bosnian immigrants... Nashville has about 24,000 Hispanics, compared to 2,700 a decade ago." Thomas Russell and...

Source: Intermountain Jewish News

On July 27, 2001, Intermountain Jewish News reported that the "Pueblo man who was found by a federal jury...to be a victim or religious discrimination said he hopes his legal victory will work to protect the rights of other religious minorities, especially those who -- like himself -- observe the Sabbath on Saturday instead of Sunday...[Don] Reed [the Pueblo man] is a member of a 'nondenominational' Christian group which, like Jews, marks the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday." Reed said "the significance of...

Source: The Washington Post

Onn July 26, 2001, The Washington Post published a piece on the court decision to allow a moment of silence in Virginia schools. "Even the judges who this week embraced Virginia's moment of silence law agree that for it to be constitutional, it must neither encourage nor discourage religion." However, "the children who went to court to fight the moment of silence know well that some of their peers are hungry to use that minute to promote the majority faith. There are already reports statewide of teachers encouraging children to...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On July 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "during the second half of the 20th century, metro Atlanta...became a richly diverse religious community." The article listed ten facts that exemplified the growing diversity. For example, "Hindus have several worship centers in Atlanta" and "Pagans and witches worship in their own ceremonies throughout the metro area."

Source: USA TODAY

on July 25, 2001, USA TODAY published a piece that said that "recent news coverage of the Salvation Army's support for President Bush's faith-based initiative may have obscured a fundamental point: The Salvation Army fully complies with all laws applicable to religious organizations in choosing whom we hire... We do not ask prospective employees about their sexual orientation... Last year, the Salvation Army helped 36 million Americans without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation or any other factor."

Source: The New York Times

On July 25, 2001, The New York Times reported that "in a case with implications for [Bush's faith-based initiative], a federal court in Kentucky ruled against Alicia Pedreira in a lawsuit accusing the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children of discrimination...Ms. Pedreira, a lesbian, was told she was fired...because the 'homosexual lifestyle is contrary to Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children core values.' Officials at the American Civil Liberties Union...joined her in the lawsuit...The home receives financing from Kentucky."

Source: Sightings

On July 25, 2001, Sightings reported that "the front page of the Chicago Tribune Metro section for July fifth shows two pictures of religion in America that capture well its ambivalence as a public force. The first story concerns [a] Hindu leader...A woman of humble Indian birth, Amritandandamayi now touches the lives of a worldwide community...[She] hugs follower after follower, at times for eighteen straight hours...Directly below this story of religious diversity and the power of shared affection is a picture of Richard Loy,...

Source: USA TODAY

On July 25, 2001, USA TODAY published an opinion piece that said that "it appears that faith-based groups will be making a deal with the devil by signing up for federal funds...When it comes to a church's staff...each church has the right to employ those who hold to the tenets of their faith...Secular demands such as anti-discrimination regulations will bring only negative consequences."